Crimson

Chapter 7: She Lives

Jake's Perspective:

I cracked my knuckles as beads of sweat rushed down my forehead from the despotic hot sun beating down on me. The air was humid as well as blistering. I pushed my shovel deeper into the dry soil and lifted it, throwing it into the pile beside me. I shoved my shovel back into the dirt, lifting the dirt and throwing it into the same pile. I did this over and over, pulling up the weeds and the grass as the sun remained unforgiving. The heat had my sweat running like raindrops dripping down a car window. I licked my lips, only to make them become even drier. A nice, cool glass of water was calling my name in the distance, but I could spare no time. If my father saw me come inside for even a few short minutes he would most likely whack me over the head with my shovel. And that's if he's in a good mood. Every day there were jobs to be done, and considering how my father had no intention to take care of his responsibilities, they all became my responsibilities. Corn needed to be shucked, crops needed to be fertilized, animals needed feeding, fences needed fixing as well did the shed, new pens needed to be built, new crops needed to be planted, and all by myself, it would take an average of fourteen hours of the day. Each day was the same; wake up before dawn and fall asleep before midnight. And since not much work can be done after dark, I have to spend that time cleaning up my father's messes. But even though it was hard work, I didn't mind it. It kept me away from my father for long periods of time; which was quite luxurious if you ask me. Sooner than later the clock would strike noon and the sun's intensity will triple. If one thing's for sure, it's going to be a heck of a long day.

Sam's Perspective:

I stood leaning next to a mahogany tree while Julian tied the ropes to set the trap.

"Are you gonna help me or are you just gonna stand there and look pretty?" Julian remarked sarcastically, looking up from the stake he was pushing into the ground.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders with a frown engulfing my face.

"What's the point? Like we're going to actually trap anything..."

Julian looked into my eyes as he exhaled a loud sigh.

"Sam, listen, there's nothing we can do. What's done is done. It's not even like we had a choice in any of it" he responded.

I stood up from the tree and exclaimed;

"But he didn't even give her a chance! She was innocent! She didn't deserve whatever he's done!"

He shushed me as I made a lot of noise. I had forgotten that we can no longer be very loud in the forests, especially in the middle of the day. He released yet another sigh.

"News flash, none of us deserve this" he groaned.

A feeling of shock sank deep into me.

"Don't you even care?" I asked desperately.

Julian didn't make a sound. He stopped what he was doing and stared off into space for a moment.

"Of course I do...But the problem is when you care too much, you get hurt easily. And we can't let our guard down anytime soon. Another boy disappeared two days ago..."

My stomach twisted into a knot.

"What? Who?" I interrogated.

Julian's jaw clenched and his eyelids were shut tight for a moment. He then spoke without a hint of hesitation.

"Slightly. Slightly disappeared when he went out hunting. He never came back."

I sighed. It seems as though nobody is safe anymore. My stomach remained queasy.